The 2014 North American Youth Chess
Championship in Tarrytown, New York (June 12-16, 2014) welcomed 291 players from all across the
USA, Canada and Mexico.

Alexander Katz (USA) won 1st Place on
tiebreak, earning the International Master title along the way.

Justus Williams took 2nd place securing
his second IM Norm and Andrew Tang (USA) earned his first IM Title Norm.

The North American Youth Championship is
an event that rotates among USA, Canada and Mexico. This year's championship had an impressive list of
official and extra players, which makes the event a great training for players
who are serious about improving their chess skills.

Justus Williams & Alexander Katz, Photo Dora Leticia

Each country selects 12 official players,
who are offered conditions to play in the event. Players who won last year's
NAYCC are considered as players with personal right, which also entitles them
with conditions from the organization.
Head of Delegations also receive free accommodations for four nights.

We would like to thank the U.S. Chess
Trust and the U.S. Chess Federation for supporting this event. Many thanks also to Crown Trophy for
their sponsorship and NorCal House of Chess for arranging free game
analysis with GM Barbosa and GM Paragua, a nice feature at the
event.

My special thank you to the staff, who worked so hard to make
this event a success. Also a special congratulations to the Players who won FIDE Titles and FIDE
norms.

One of our norm earners, Under 16 Open Champion Kesav Viswanadha annotates one of his key victories.

13.Bxf6?! Nxf6
A
little dubious for him to give up the two bishops voluntarily. 14.a4 Qb6
15.Nd2
It's usually a good idea for white to trade light-squared bishops
here. 15...Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Rfc8
Playing to open the queenside.
17.Qb3 Rab8
18.Qc2 Nd5 19.Rdb1 Nb4 20.Qd1 Rd8 21.b3?
Although white was
trying to stop c4, he now weakens the a1-h8 diagonal. Here I realized that I
had the advantage because of his dark square issues. [21.Nf3 was much better,
with the idea of meeting 21...c4 with 22.d4 . Although white is still worse
here, he can still play a reasonable game.] 21...Bf6
Now my dark-squared
bishop becomes very powerful. 22.Rc1 Nd5?!
Instead of this I had a way
to win very quickly. [22...Nxd3! 23.exd3 Rxd3 And white finds both his knights
caught in pins that are impossible to escape. For example 24.Ne2 (If 24.Nce4
Bxa1 25.Rxa1 f5 traps white's knight.) 24...Bxa1 25.Rxa1 Rbd8 26.Ra2
Qc6+ followed by Qd7 wins back the knight on d2, leaving black up an exchange
and two pawns.] 23.Nde4?
After this move I was pretty confident that I
was going to win. [23.Nxd5 was the only way to stay in the game. 23...exd5 24.Rab1
b4 is still much better for black because of his queenside majority.] 23...Bd4
Keeping the pin and building up pressure on white's queenside. 24.Rab1?
This
move just blunders a pawn and causes the complete collapse of his queenside. 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rab1 This is still significantly worse for white, but at least
it doesn't lose material. 25...Nb4 26.Nd2 e5 and white is basically paralyzed.
24...Nxc3 25.Nxc3 Bxc3 26.Rxc3 bxa4

Now the pin on the b-file is very
hard to break. 27.b4
During the game I saw the line 27.Ra1 axb3 28.Rb1
c4 , which keeps the b-pawn alive, and after 29. Rxc4 Rd5 30.Rc3 Rb5 black will
simply push the a-pawn and promote. 27...cxb4 28.Qxa4 Qb5 29.Qxb5 Rxb5